Antifriction bearing



April 23, 1929i J. F. ocoNNoR 1,710,185

' ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed Jan. 16, 1926 291] WM-@W y @WMM Patented Apr. 23, 19239.

UNITED STATES 1,710,185 PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN F. OCONNOR7 0F CHOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0k W. H. MINER, INC., OF CHICAGO, LLNOIS, A' CORPGRATION OF DELAWARE.

.ANTIFRIGTION BEARING.

Application filed January 16, 1926. YSerial Noi. 81,647.

This invention relates kto anti-friction bear- ;mes.

tne object ot this invention is to provide an anti-friction bearing especially adapted lor use as a si de bearing on railway cars, and wherein the parts are so arranged that the anti-friction element will be returned to norn mal position automatically when the load is released therefrom. y

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a side bearing oit the above characT ter, in which the anti-friction element may be in the form ot a plain steel cylindrical roller, in conjunction with centering mechanism tor saidroller, including transversely disposed resilient units arranged at each end of the roller housing, together with connecting means arranged to simultaneously flex or actuate all of said resilient means upon movement of the roller to either one, or the other side ot central position with reference to the roller housing.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view o1 the invention, partly in elevation, showing the same secured in position upon 'the truck bolster. Figure 2 is a horizontal, sectional View of the invention substantially upon the line 2 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a 'fragmentary vertical, lon gitudinal, sectional view,fpartly in elevation, oit a slightly ditferent embodiment of the invention. And Fig. l is a horizontal, sectional view of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 3, showing one halt only ot the bearing, substantially upon the line 41-,41 of Fig. 3.

The invention broadly comprises a housing A; an anti-friction element B resilient means C; transmitting elementsD; and coupling elements E.

Referring lirst to Figs. 1 and 2, the housing A comprises a rectangular casting having side walls 5 and 'end walls 6 and. 7, each side wall being provided `with longitudinally spaced offsets adjacent the top edge thereof, providing two horizontally yextending elongated chambers or recesses 8 at each side et the housing for a purpose hereinafter described, each side wall also being provided with top, over-hanging flanges as indicated at 9. The end walls 6 and 7 diverge outwardly as shown, are then curved inwardly as indicated at 10, and extend inwardly to provide overhanging top walls 11 which merge with the over-hanging flanges upon the side Walls, the inner edges ofthe overhanging top walls being curved as indicated at 12, said walls being utilized asstops for the roller B to limit its movement to either side ot central position. The bottom edges of the end walls G and 7 are provided with outwardly extending flanges 13-13, which rest upon a bearing plate 14, forming the bottom of the housing, the flanges 13-13 being secured to the bearing plate by suitable means, such as rivets 15-15, extending through the flanges andy bearing plate. The side walls 5 oli' the housing are'extended slightly below the top surface of the bearing plate as indicated at 16.` The bearing plate 14 is preferably of hardcned steel and is of a Width adapted to it between the side walls 5 of the housing. The bearing plate 14 extends outwardlyk beyond the flanges 13, the outer ends of the bearing plate being secured to the top plate of the truck bolster 17, by rivets or othersuitable means.

The anti-friction element B is in the form of a plain cylindrical roller, which may be a section cut oil of around steel bar, and hence is of minimum cost since it is not necessary to cast the same. Said roller is disposed in the housing, and is adapted to roll back and forth on the bearing plate 14, the Width of the roller being somewhat less than the width between the walls 5 5 of the housing as shown in Fig. 2.

The centering nica-ns include the resilient means C comprising transversely disposed helical springs 18 and 19, one being arranged in each end of the housing, each spring being of a length so as to extend across the housing and having its opposite ends disposed in the elongated chambers or recesses 8 provided therefor in the side walls of the housing, the ends of each spring being looselydisposed in said chambers soas to move laterally therein during operation ot' the bearing.

The transmitting elements D-D are two in number, and disposed at each side of the roller B. yEach transmitting element D is in the form or' a hollow, cylindrical member having a central bore extending therethrough, through which the related helical spring extends, the wallof the bore in each the transmitting elements being curved longitudinally, the parts of said wall most closely approaching at the center of the member and diverging outwardly toward its ends, the wall at the point et closest approach of theannular surfaces of the wall the bore providing an opening slightly larger than the helical spring extending therethrough.

EachV transmitting member is preferably o ly a len gt-h approximately the same as the width of the anti-friction element B, the member in each instance being carried b v the-spring with which it is associated. The elenrients D-D are adapted to bear upon the roller B, and the engaging faces thereof are curved as indicated at 2l to conform to the shape of the roller, said curved faces extending above the center of the roller ll, and serving to maintain the same within the housing. e

The connecting or coupling elements lil-E are two'in number, one oit the same being disposed upon each side oi the roller B, each element Ebeingl in the rorm of a. linl 22, the opposite ends of which are provided with circular openings 23 and 24 through which the ends ot' the springs i8 and 1Q extend, tho

links connecting the ends of the two springs Y in series, so that the same may. be operated simultaneously. The length ot the linlsris suchthat when the roller B is in central po- Y sition the ends of the springs 1S and 19 engage the inner limits of the recesses S in the side walls of the housing.V

In operation, assuming the anti-friction element to be moving toward the right, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, the transmitting member D in the path of the roller will be moved towarc the end wall '7, engaging the spring l?) intermediate its ends,and substaniallv in direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of said spring, causing longitudinal llexing of said spring, and by reason or the connection of the ends of said spring 19 with the ends of the spring 18 at the opposite end oi said housing by the coupling members'QQ, said latter spring also will Vbe simultaneouslj-,fT flexed reducing the total Y from the roller, the same is returned to and different embodiment of 'the inve tion is illus` trated. IThis construction rincludes housing A; an anti-friction roller l; transmitting elenients'C; resilient means D and coupling elements E.

In this construction the housing Ais ot box-'like form generally similar to the housing" A heretofore described, except that the end walls 50 thereof are disposed in 'snbstan mieres tially parallel relation instead of diverging outwardly, the extensions 5l upon the end walls providing overhanging parts which act as rstops for the roller as indicated at 51a. rlie roller B is oitl the same construction as the roller B, heretofore described rlh'e transmitting elements C are two in number and disposed upon either side ot the anti-friction element B at opposite ends oi" the housing, the bottom portions 52 ot said transmittingmembers rest-ing upon the bearg' plate 523 tori mg the bottom olt the housin Each transmitting element C comprises a transverely7 arranged follower member, the inner ,tace ot which is curved to conform to the surface of the rol er B', and the opposite ends of whic i adapted to abut against stops 54 formed on the side walls of the housing to limit the movement of the Jollower member in the direction of the roller. The rear surface of the follower is provided with horizontally disposed ribs 55, which are longitudinally bowed outwardly as shownin Fig. il, the upper and lower ribs 55 being inivardlj; odset as indicated at 56 to acco1nmodale a dat plate spring 56a, which is disposed transverselj,v across the end ot the housii rlfhe transmitting element and the spring, at the opposite end of the housing, are ot identically similar construction to those ust described, except for their opposite disposiiion, and will be designated by the same reference characters.

The coupling elements E-E are two in number, one of the same being disposed upon each side ot the housing, ycach coupling` elenient being in the form ot an elongated link, having` inwardlj,7 turned engaging portions 5S its opposite ends, which are adapted to tit against the outer surfaces of the opposite ends of each plate spring 5G, the coupling elements being arranged to slide in the guideways Y59 :formed in each side wall oi? the housing, when the bearing is operated.

ln operation, assuming the roller B to be moving in a direction toward the right, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the vifollower Gin the path of the roller is carried therewith, while the follower C attlie opposite endet the housing is held stationary by engageni-ent with stops 54. Movement ot the right hand follower causes the same to bear against the riGht hand spring 5Gt intermediate its ends, said ends oi its spiings being yieldably restrained against movement by the inturned ends 58 ot the elements EWE' resulting in bowing of the right hand spring in conformance with the curved surfaces o? the ribs 55 of the right hand follower. During this action the coupling elements lil-lil, which have Vthe inturned portions of their opposite ends engaging the plate spring at the left hand oit the housing, serve to Vliex the i left hand olate snrino' awe-.inst the lei't hand Y ,l l` o a y follower which is held avamst the sto is ol. b l

so that both of the plate springs 56a are simultaneously flexed and in series, each one giving half of total action, the energy stored in said springs serving` to return the roller l to, and maintain the same in central posi.- tion. Movement ot the anti-friction element l in the opposite direction also simultaneously flexes both springs 56a due to an action similar to that ust described.

lWhile l have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope ol the claims appended hereto.

l claim:

l. In a side bearing of the character described, the combination with a i'nounting` .including a bearing plate; oit an anti-friction element movable back and forth on said bearing,` plate; elongated flexible resilient n'iembers disposed upon opposite sides oil said anti-iricti on elen'ient in the direction of movement thereoilf, and extending' transversely oil the path. of movement et said element and means actuated by said element for fiening` all of said resilient members upon movement olf said anti-friction element to one side or the other of central position.

2. In an anti-friction side bearing', the combination with a mounting including` a bearing` plate; of an aina-:friction element movable back and forth on said bearing plate; and means 'for ,centering said element and yieldingly opposing' movement thereof, includinzg` elongated flexible resilient member-s disposed in. the path oit said element, said eloment being interposed between said members,

and said members extending substantially transversely oit the direction ot movement oi" said element; and means for rest-raininggmovement of the ends of said member to compel said flexing' oit said n'ieinber upon movement oit said anti-friction elementfrom centered position.

3. An anti-friction bearing including a mounting and an anti-friction element movable longitudinally to and 'lro on said mounting; oi spaced elongated resilient Aflexible members disposed on opposite sides et said element and having' their longitudinal dimensions arranged transversely olf the path oit movement of said element; means for restraining' bodily movement ol said members; and means actuated by said anti-friction element when. moved 'from `centerei'l position for ficxina' said resilient members.

-i-. An anti-friction bearing, including' a mountingl and an anti-'friction roller movable longitudinally on said mounting; oit spaced elongated llexible resilient means disposed on opposite sides oit said element and arrangoil across the path of said element; and means actuated by said antfriction elcment 'l'or flexing all oit said resilient means when moved to one side or the other oi3 central position with respect to said mounting.

5. ln a device ol the character described, the combination with a mounting; oit an antitrictien element movable to and iro on said mounting; elongated resilient flexible means disposed across the path of said clement; means restraining' movement of the end portions of said resilient means; and transmitting` means arranged between said anti-friction element and said resilient means, said traneniitting means being` provided with curved faces adapted to engage said resilient means to iiex the same upon movement imparted 'thereto by said anti-friction element trom centered position.

6. An anti-friction bearingY comprising a mounting; an anti-friction element movable longitudinally of said mounting; independent, spaced elongated spring means arranged at either side oit said anti-friction element and liavinig their longitudinal dimensions extending' transversely ot the path olf' movement thereof; means associated with said mounting lor limiting the movements oil? the end portions, o'f' one of said springmeans in one direction and the other spring means in the opposite direction; and devices 'for coupling said s'iringY means to effect flexing oit both of the same upon movement of said roller iin either one direction or the other.

7. An anti-friction bearing', eon'iprisine; a mounting; an anti-friction element movable longitinlinally ott said mounting; spaced independent elongated resilient flexible members arranged at either side ot said anti-'friction element; means associated with saidv mounting :for limiting the movement oli the end portions ot said resilient members; devices ilior coupling said resilient members whereby all of the same are operated upon movement of said anti-'friction element in either direction; and transmitting means interposed between said resilient members and said anti-friction element, said transmitting n'ieans being irovided with curved faces adapted for engagement with the resilient members between the end portions thereof.

`8. ln an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a mounting` having a bearing surface; of an ati-.triction element movable back and forth on said bearing surface; a tollower at each side of said element, each follower having a curved face conforming` to the periphery oit said element; and resilient flexible means having its longitudinal dimensions extending transversely of' the path ol movement of said element and bearing on said lollowers to urge the same toward each other and said element.

, 9. ln an anti-friction lniaring;` of the character described, eonil'irisinir a housing' havine` side and end walls and open at its bottom, each off said side walls being provided wi th spaced elongated recesses; coil springs 'dis- ,ng disgosed between said ending ouwnidly of the 10 nig, said housing being seposed transversely of said housing, each oiV i said splines having the opposite end portions folio YL Y.

thereof disposed in said `recesses; followers op o mounted on said Coll spring, each of said cir-:od to firing plate.

followers having Curved engaging faces eo- Y Y that l Claim ille foregoing I operating with said springs; a beaiinp; plate have liei'euno su iibed my naine this 8th and an anti-friction roller inserted tlii'ougli day o Siuiurii'y 1526. Y

the open bottom of said housing, said anti- JHN F. OCOl\l\lOl-, 

